Health of Azerbaijan political prisoner Alikram Gummatov deteriorated

Alikram Gummatov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on 10 February 1996, is identified by the Council of Europe's experts as a political prisoner in Azerbaijan.

In spite of the requirement by the Council of Europe to release political prisoners or retrial their cases, Gummatov was again sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003, when his case was reviewed.

His health has been seriously undermined for the years in prison. The independent medical examination report prepared on 5 March 2004 by Ms Kerimova, a health professional of the higher category, reads that Gummatov suffers from a number of serious illnesses.

According to lawyer Elman Osmanov, Gummatov's health has considerably deteriorated recently - almost all his teeth have fallen out, he is quickly losing weight and is depressed.

The conditions under which he is held deprive him of the possibility to receive urgent medical care in the period when the prison building is closed, from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. of the next day.

The resolution on political prisoners in Azerbaijan adopted at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2004 contains the requirement made to the republican leadership to settle the problem of political prisoners by the autumn of 2004. However, under the present circumstances Gummatov may not reach the end of 2004.